Why is there no big budget Hollywood film about George Washington?

Aegon Spengler said:
Hollywood doesn’t have to do anything. They have never cared about historical accuracy! They made an Australian guy a Spaniard in Gladiator and had him kill an emperor who definitely didn’t die like that.

They made Persians Orcs and monsters in 300…
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Plenty of people would be pissed if they had a Washington biopic and completely glossed over the slave stuff. It's more than just being a stickler for historical accuracy.

It's just not worth it. There's probably not going to be a positive presidential biopic for anyone before Lincoln.
 
surgeyou1 said:
Plenty of people would be pissed if they had a Washington biopic and completely glossed over the slave stuff. It's more than just being a stickler for historical accuracy.

It's just not worth it. There's probably not going to be a positive presidential biopic for anyone before Lincoln.
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Well, even one that is complex and accepts Washington as a brutal murderer who burned villages and owned slaves. That would still probably appeal to audiences, get nominations for awards etc. Hollywood makes controversial movies too, not just fluff pieces.
 
surgeyou1 said:
Probably because they would have to portray him as a slave owner and that would get messy
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Then make him the bad guy!

The hero, King George III, struggles to maintain order in America as the evil Washington tries to take over so he can spread slavery across the continent.

The real life King George III actually wrote an essay arguing that slavery was immoral, so it's not even that far-fetched to make this movie.
 
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If it wasn't for a determined George Washington, we wouldn't have the half the freedoms that we enjoy today.

They better pump out a Washington movie, tout suite. A great one.

If they make him the baddie, I will be displeased.
 
Aegon Spengler said:
What reasons would you guess as to why there has never been an attempt at a big budget movie about George Washington?

You could say because of political correctness and his connections to slavery but it’s not like they made a movie about him in the 1950s, 1960, 70s, etc.

Hollywood has done Lincoln, plenty of stuff about Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, Kennedy… they even had a movie where a fictional president turns into the hulk.

They made a movie about Patton where the first minute is just Patton standing there in front of a huge American flag saluting and then then next 5 minutes are just him giving a speech about how great America is and how important it is to kill Nazis…

They made a Napoleon movie, “master and commander” - a movie about ships from around the revolutionary era… the only big budget movie about the revolutionary war I can think of is the Mel Gibson film “The Patriot”, and George Washington doesn’t even appear in it as far as I recall.
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Have you seen Lincoln?

Remember how boring it was despite DDLs great performance?

Now imagine a movie 5 times more boring.
 
Aegon Spengler said:
What reasons would you guess as to why there has never been an attempt at a big budget movie about George Washington?
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Probably because of some of the content in his farewell address.

Washington stressed that national identity was paramount, and said that the "name of AMERICAN... must always exalt the just pride of patriotism". Washington warned against the dangers of political parties and entangling foreign alliances. He counseled friendship and commerce with all nations, but advised against involvement in European wars. He stressed the importance of religion, asserting that "religion and morality are indispensable supports" in a republic.

Pittie Petey said:
Prolly cause of that gay ass wig
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Washington didn't wear a wig. He powdered his hair, as was the fashion, but never wore a wig.
 
Fedorgasm said:
Then make him the bad guy!

The hero, King George III, struggles to maintain order in America as the evil Washington tries to take over so he can spread slavery across the continent. King George III actually wrote an essay arguing that slavery was immoral, so it's not even that far-fetched to make this movie.
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Wasn't that the DLC for ACIII?
 
mb23100 said:
Not going to top this.....

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I have been googling about this and found this video



This one claims that the people who ran the studio system in the USA didn’t like the idea of revolutionary politics in the 50s/60/70s and that studios still don’t want to glorify the idea of “revolution” in general.

The argument he puts together is actually pretty good when he gets into the backgrounds of studio head honchos but I dunno.

Although when I think about it I don’t recall many movies about revolutions at all. Nothing big budget has been made about the French Revolution, or the Russian, or Cromwell in England, or in China, or anywhere…
 
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Aegon Spengler said:
I have been googling about this and found this video



This one claims that the people who ran the studio system in the USA didn’t like the idea of revolutionary politics in the 50s/60/70s and that studios still don’t want to glorify the idea of “revolution” in general.

The argument he puts together is actually pretty good when he gets into the backgrounds of studio head honchos but I dunno.

Although when I think about it I don’t recall many movies about revolutions at all. Nothing big budget has been made about the French Revolution either, or the Russian, or Cromwell in England, or in China, or anywhere…
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A few come to mind that had elements. Godfather II, Duck You Sucker.

I do agree with the studio heads. You would have to be an authentic radical to push certain themes onto the world.

Which is why Hollywood should never allow itself to become too crazy with political fads. I mean to say, the entertainment industry is meant to entertain.
 
Gene Tunney said:
A few come to mind that had elements. Godfather II, Duck You Sucker.

I do agree with the studio heads. You would have to be an authentic radical to push certain themes onto the world.

Which is why Hollywood should never allow itself to become too crazy with political fads. I mean to say, the entertainment industry is meant to entertain.
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I think George Washington beating an English general to death with a big stick would be hella entertaining and his principles were the ones the USA is founded on, I mean he’s a “founding father” - what from the revolutionary era would be radical today?

Thomas Paine’s “all men are created equal” is pretty much enshrined in law or at least purports to be, “no taxation without representation” is also pretty standard stuff.
 
Aegon Spengler said:
I think George Washington beating an English general to death with a big stick would be hella entertaining and his principles were the ones the USA is founded on, I mean he’s a “founding father” - what from the revolutionary era would be radical today?

Thomas Paine’s “all men are created equal” is pretty much enshrined in law or at least purports to be, “no taxation without representation” is also pretty standard stuff.
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If you do that, you run the risk of rocking the established Hollywood culture boat, you risk a financial loss because, frankly, historical movies are not money makers, and our English allies would not be especially entertained seeing Washington on the big screen, wielding his big stick on one of their top generals.
 
Cillian Murphy as George Washington he can show off his Weiner in this film again.
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